What women REALLY want: A husband by 25 ... called James

Her boyfriend may not have a clue but today's young woman knows exactly what she wants.

To be specific, she'd like to marry a man called James, who earns at least £25,000, by the time she's 25.

Perhaps it doesn't sound like much to ask. But according to a poll, eight out of ten women worry that they will never find their soulmate.

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While the survey showed that young women notch up as many sexual conquests as men, the survey found that they are really looking for a "romantic, hard-working man who is not afraid to commit".

Lisa Smosarski, editor of More magazine, which commissioned the survey, said: "The idea that women want an endless string of serial relationships which never end in commitment is way off the mark.

"By the age of 25, what young women really want is a soulmate with a view to marriage.

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"Unfortunately, men have had it so good for so long they've become commitment-phobic, drifting from one long-term relationship into another.

"However, young women today have watched their mothers' floundering relationship history and realised that getting a man to commit is important for their future happiness and family security. Young women are starting to expect far more from men."

The poll of women with an average age of 25 found that 88 per cent would most like a "long-term commitment" in a relationship.

And as 94 per cent said they could envisage getting married one day, 89 per cent agreed that being faithful was "very important" in marriage.

Although more women seem to be settling down in their thirties or later, those polled thought 25 was the "perfect age" to get married, preferably to a man who earns £25,000 or more.

They would most like to marry a man called James, but Daniel, Dan or Danny, Ben, Matt, Mark, Chris, Jack, David, Josh and John or Jonny also made it into the top ten.

For the average man who's struggling to make his way in the world - and understand his partner - the poll had some solace.

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Eight out of ten said they would prefer to marry a "good, all-round, hard-working bloke" than the glitz and glamour of a "celebrity-style relationship".

However, he could try a little harder. Two-thirds of women felt they made the most effort in a relationship.

Only 37 per cent said their partner had bought them flowers and only 24 per cent of men had paid for a meal out.

What's more, in their search for true love, more than three-quarters said they'd had their heart broken.